The Ultimate Bloodwork Biomarker Guide
Version 2.0
Here’s the thing most people don’t understand about bloodwork: conventional reference ranges are based on population averages of sick people. When Quest or LabCorp tells you something is “normal,” they’re comparing you to the average American, who is overweight, metabolically dysfunctional, chronically inflamed, and uncoupled from biology.
That’s not the standard we’re aiming for.
This guide provides optimal functional ranges, the levels where your body actually thrives, not just survives. More importantly, we’ll explain the mechanism behind each marker so you understand WHY it matters, not just what number to hit.
The goal is to understand what’s happening at the cellular level so you can address root causes rather than chasing symptoms or obsess over numbers.
This guide is for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the following constitutes medical advice. Work with a knowledgeable and licensed practitioner to interpret your individual results and develop appropriate protocols.
How to Use This Guide
Reference Range vs. Optimal Range
Reference Range: What the lab considers “normal” (based on 95% of tested population)
Optimal Range: Where you actually want to be for peak function
The Root Cause Framework
Every biomarker connects to one or more of these core dysfunctions:
Mitochondrial dysfunction - energy production at the cellular level
Mineral dysregulation - especially magnesium, copper, iron, zinc relationships
Inflammation/oxidative stress - the fire burning through your tissues
Hormone imbalance - the signaling system gone haywire
Circadian disruption - your master biological clock out of sync
Immune dysfunction - surveillance, regulation, and repair capacity compromised
Environmental toxicity - biotoxins, mold, heavy metals, and chemical exposures
When you see a marker out of range, ask: “Which root cause is this pointing to?”
LIVER FUNCTION
The liver is your master detoxification organ, but it’s also central to hormone metabolism and clearance, blood sugar regulation, protein synthesis, bile production for fat digestion, and iron storage and copper metabolism.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver is associated with anger and frustration. I’ve seen this clinically, people with chronic liver dysfunction often have unresolved anger patterns. The biochemistry creates the emotional state.
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
Reference Range: 0-40 U/L
Optimal Target: <20 U/L
Units: U/L
The Mechanism
ALT is an enzyme primarily found inside liver cells (hepatocytes). When liver cells are damaged or inflamed, ALT leaks into the bloodstream. Think of it as a “liver damage alarm.”
What elevates ALT: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, the most common cause we see), alcohol consumption, medications (statins, acetaminophen, NSAIDs), viral hepatitis, iron overload (this is the connection most doctors miss), and muscle damage to a lesser degree.
The root cause connection: Elevated ALT almost always indicates either toxic burden, fatty liver from metabolic dysfunction, or iron accumulation. Dietary iron fortification/supplementation shows up here, unbound iron in liver tissue causes oxidative damage and hepatocyte death, releasing ALT.
What to do if elevated: Check full iron panel including ceruloplasmin. Assess alcohol and medication use. Support with milk thistle (silymarin), NAC, Tudca, and liver-supportive foods. Address metabolic dysfunction through circadian optimization and dietary changes.
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
Reference Range: 3-44 U/L
Optimal Target: <30 U/L
Units: U/L
The Mechanism
AST is found in liver cells but ALSO in heart, muscle, kidney, and brain tissue. This makes it less specific to the liver than ALT, but the ratio between them tells a story.
AST/ALT Ratio Interpretation: A ratio under 1 is typical of non-alcoholic fatty liver. A ratio over 2 suggests alcoholic liver disease. A ratio over 1 with both elevated could indicate cirrhosis or muscle damage.
Note: If someone’s AST is elevated but ALT is normal, look outside the liver. It’s often muscle damage from exercise, especially in athletes.
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
Reference Range: 30-125 U/L
Optimal Target: 40-100 U/L
Units: U/L
The Mechanism
ALP is an enzyme found in liver, bone, kidneys, and intestines. It’s involved in dephosphorylation reactions and is particularly important for bone mineralization.
The root cause connection: We often see low ALP in people with profound mineral deficiencies, particularly zinc and magnesium. The enzyme literally can’t be made without these cofactors.
GGT (Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase)
Reference Range: 0-65 U/L
Optimal Target: <30 U/L
Units: U/L
The Mechanism
GGT is involved in glutathione metabolism, your body’s master antioxidant system. Elevated GGT = glutathione depletion = you’re losing the oxidative stress battle.
What to do if elevated: Eliminate or dramatically reduce alcohol. Support glutathione with NAC (600-1800mg daily), glycine, and glutamine. Address iron overload if present. Increase sulfur-rich vegetables (cruciferous family).